[gabythenerd]

This reminds me about a couple of famous fics that each have their own fics inspired by them: Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality [0], and The Arithmancer [1].

The first has it own wikipedia page and its from the creator of LessWrong. From Wikipedia: > It adapts the story of Harry Potter to explain complex concepts in cognitive science, philosophy, and the scientific method.

I read it almost 10 years ago but remember it getting tiresome after a while, but it does teach a ton about logical thinking.

The second is a less famous fic where someone who must have at least a masters in mathematics wrote Hermione as using math to create her own spells, theories and gradually becoming better at magic as she turned into a better arithmancer, and everything is based in real world theory.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter_and_the_Methods_o... [1] https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10070079/1/The-Arithmancer

[kemayo]

> I read it almost 10 years ago but remember it getting tiresome after a while, but it does teach a ton about logical thinking.

I remember finding it interesting from a pedagogical perspective, because it starts out as a vehicle for "Harry gives lectures about 'rationalism' to anyone within 15 feet of him" scenes and quickly moves on to "Harry makes very poor choices and doesn't do any actual science", which although it does make for a better story also somewhat undermines the level of trust one can have in his teachings.

[ysleepy]

Harry Potter and the methods of rationality is so tainted by the author, his agenda and the weird cult that is less wrong, I cannot recommend it (I have read it).

[pjscott]

Would the story be fine if you just hadn’t heard of the drama? (If so, then bringing it up might not be the best thing you could do here.)

[scubbo]

> If so, then bringing it up might not be the best thing you could do here

Why not?

[ysleepy]

The story is honestly a vehicle to convey a world view while borrowing plot from Harry Potter and Enders Game.

It is fun in the beginning, but it reeks of ayn rand and juvenile oversimplification of the world. This all might be ok, but the story is written with an agenda and its like reading scientology fiction or something.

I'd recommend just reading Enders Game instead.

[tourmalinetaco]

I’m gonna need some more info about this cult and his agenda.

[jamilton]

The author: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliezer_Yudkowsky

Presumably the "cult": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LessWrong

Or maybe they mean specifically the subgroup of people on LessWrong who believe the creation of AGI would be the end of the world.

[ysleepy]

See previous discussion:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35064303

"The Real-Life Consequences of Silicon Valley’s AI Obsession

Sam Bankman-Fried made effective altruism a punchline, but its philosophy of maximum do-gooding masks a thriving culture of predatory behavior."

[tourmalinetaco]

A rather successful AI researcher with a large fanfiction very weirdly tied into his craft, and his own discussion board/pseudo-cult who believe that unless his qualifications for “friendly AI” are followed the world will end?

And here I thought “My Immortal” was the weirdest Harry Potter fanfiction.

Thanks for the links!